TikTok user Kelly Rose Sarno $4 to find out which have the best formulas.- Some of Sarno's favorites were the Benefit BADgal BANG! and Wet n Wild Mega Length $4.
$4 with millions of views,
Sarno, whose username is $4 is trying to test high-end and drugstore mascaras from as many brands as possible while recording her findings and ratings on a $4.
She spoke to Insider about the process so far.
Sarno started her search for the best mascara because she wanted to branch out
@kellyrosesarno Here is my updated Top 15 Best and Worst! Is @benefitcosmetics Bad Gal Bang STILL #1?! #30mascaras ♬ original sound - Kelly Rose Sarno
After using the same mascara for five years, Sarno wanted to see if there was a better formula available. Her first project was $4, but after about a year, she's tested over 180.
Sarno initially reviewed mascaras she found at Target and Ulta but later sought out products her TikTok followers recommended or the ones she saw $4.
After trying many products, Sarno's holy-grail mascara is still Benefit BADgal BANG!
Sarno's runner-up products were the $4 and the $4 mascaras, both of which retail for about $10.
She also mentioned $4 had a great formula, especially given its only $4. Her other drugstore picks included $4, $10, and $4, $6.
After trying high-end and drugstore mascaras, she also found that price didn't always serve as an indicator of the quality of a product.
"I've tried YSL and Dior and spent a lot of money on those brands and they just don't perform at all," Sarno told Insider. "It's wild that a $5 mascara can just blow a Dior mascara out of the water."
According to Sarno, one of her most surprising disappointments was the $14 $4, which she described on her spreadsheet as the "worst mascara ever used." The $4, $4, and $4 mascaras, which range from $25 to $30, were also some of Sarno's least favorites.
"I like to have length and separation and I'm really picky about my brush and the formula," Sarno said.
She said silicone brushes gave her lashes the best separation, though she knows this type of wand doesn't work for all of her followers.
Along the way, Sarno has spent thousands on mascaras and learned a lot about what makes a great product
@kellyrosesarno TOP Mascaras from 30 in 30 days! #30mascaras @benefitcosmetics ♬ original sound - Kelly Rose Sarno
Although some mascaras have been sent to Sarno by brands, she said that she bought "more than 90%" of the products herself. She said she's fortunate she's been able to spend thousands of dollars on mascara so far.
Sarno also noted that not everyone who tries the same mascaras as her will have $4.
"I'm not here to $4," Sarno told Insider. "I'm simply here to say what works for me and what doesn't. People really love their mascara and they have strong opinions on it."